Parallel Tapped Magnetic Pickup for Guitar Tone Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic single coil pickups for stringed musical instruments lack the ability to fully utilize all coil windings, limiting tonal variations and sound quality.
Innovation Solution
A single coil pickup design with a parallel tapped connection between the beginning and end of the wire, allowing for additional windings to be connected in parallel, enabling more comprehensive utilization of the coil windings and tonal switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single coil pickup uses a conventional single connection configuration, then the device complexity is low, but the tonal flexibility and sound quality are limited due to inability to fully utilize all coil windings
Solution Approach 1:
The coil winding is segmented into multiple sections with tap points along the wire path. These segments can be independently connected to provide different effective winding lengths, enabling multiple tone options from a single physical coil assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The pickup incorporates a dynamic switching mechanism that allows the user to change the electrical connection configuration between coil segments during operation. This enables real-time tonal variation without changing the physical pickup components.
2Reliability
If additional coil windings are added to improve sound quality, then the manufacturing complexity increases, but the benefit is limited if all windings cannot be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is manufactured as a single continuous winding with multiple tap points created during the winding process. This segmentation is built into the manufacturing itself, allowing all windings to be utilized without requiring post-manufacturing assembly of multiple separate coils.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil assembly serves multiple functions by providing different effective winding lengths through the tap point connections. A single physical coil structure delivers multiple tonal characteristics, eliminating the need for multiple separate coil assemblies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a parallel tapped connection is implemented to utilize all coil windings, then the tonal variations improve, but the circuit connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coil wire is divided into segments with tap points, and a parallel connection scheme is implemented where multiple segments can be electrically connected in parallel. This provides tonal variations while maintaining relatively simple wiring compared to series-parallel configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
A switch assembly acts as an intermediary component that manages the complex wiring connections. The switch assembly provides a user-friendly interface to select different coil segment combinations, hiding the underlying wiring complexity from the end user.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances tonal flexibility and sound quality by allowing all coil windings to be used, enabling users to achieve various tones by switching between sections of the pickup.
Implementation Method 1
The magnet generates a magnetic field that passes through the pickup coil and also extends into a space occupied by at least one string of the instrument. Vibration of the string changes the reluctance of the magnetic path and creates disturbances in the magnetic field proportional to the string vibration. The changing magnetic field in the pickup coil in turn induces an electrical signal in the coil.
Implementation Method 2
The magnet generates a magnetic field that passes through the pickup coil and also extends into a space occupied by at least one string of the instrument.
Implementation Method 3
Vibration of the string changes the reluctance of the magnetic path and creates disturbances in the magnetic field proportional to the string vibration.
Data Source
AI summary
A parallel tapped magnetic pickup for an electrical stringed musical instrument is provided. The parallel tapped magnetic pickup comprises a coil formed with at least two parallel connected wound wires. A guitar in combination with the parallel tapped pickup is additionally provided.